Door lock



April 16, 1957 R. L. sHQALTs DOOR LOCK 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 5, 1954.

OUTSIDE Fig.

vs/ns INVEN TOR.

April 16, 1957 R. sHoALTs DOOR LOCK 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 5, 1954 Ric/70rd L Shoa/fs INVENTOR.

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DOOR LOCK `Richard L. Shoaits, Williamsport, Pa.

Application October 5, 1954, Serial No. 460,307

Claims. (Cl. 292-6363) This invention relates Vto a door lock and more speciiically provides a lock employed in conjunction with the usual door knob and operating shaft.

Anobject of this invention is to provide a door lock especially useful in bathrooms, bedrooms or other doors on which itis desirable to automatically or semi-automatically lock the door upon closing thereof, but yet permit the door to be opened from the other side or outer side thereof in the event of an emergency or for any other reason.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a door lock that will beactuated upon closing of the door which will render the outer door knob inoperative for opening the door until such time as the lock is manually released from the outside of the door or is automatically released by operation of the inner doorknob.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a door lock having a modified shaft therein land a modied knobA plate wherein the overall appearance of the door hardware will not be changed except in minor detail.

Yet another important object of the present invention is to provide a door lock that is relatively simple in construction, easy to use, efficient in operation, safe, well adapted for its intended purposes, and relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

These, together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent lreside Lin the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying7 drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure l is a longitudinal, vertical sectional View taken substantially upon a plane passing along the longitudinal center line of one form of the door lock of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical, sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section `line 2--2-of Figure l showing the details of construction of the locking shaft and outer doorknoo together vwith the release rod for releasing the door lock from the outside;

Figure 3 is a vertical, sectional View Vtaken'substantially upon a plane passing along section line 3-3 of Figure 1 showing the details of construction of the locking lugs for engagement by the spring urged hook means for retaining the Shaft in longitudinal position against the action of a coil spring;

Figure i is a detailed, vertical sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 4-4 of Figure 1 showing the details of construction of the interconnecting slide mechanism between thetwo sections of the operating shaft;

Figure 5 is a detailed perspective View of the operating shaft extending between the knobs of the door lock of the present invention;

Figure 6 is a longitudinaL-verticalsectional viewfsimilar to Figure 1 showing the details ofconstruction of a rnodied formof the door lock ofthe `present invention;

' nited States Patent.

2,788,996 Patented Apr. 16, 19517 AFigure 7 is a vertical, sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 7--7 of Figure 6 showing the details of construction of the locking means for precluding rotation of the rotating knob when the door is locked and which must be released by an operating rod;

Figure 8 is a detailed perspective View of the operating shaft extending between the knobsof the door lock of the present invention; and

Figure 9 is a detailed sectional view similar to a portion of Figure 6 showing the arrangement of the component parts when the door is Vclosed by pushing pressure against the inner doorknob.

Referring now specifically to Figures 1-5, it will be seen that the numeral 10 generally designates the form of the door lock of the .present invention illustrated therein. The door lock 10 generally includes a pair of domeshaped plates 12 and 14 mounted on the outside and inside of a door 16 respectively, and covering a transverse passage 1S in the door 16 wherein the passage 18 isgenerally elongated and usually includes the locking latch 20.

An elongated two piece operating shaft generally designated by the numeral 22 and including a first part 24 and a second part 26 that is substantially square in cross -sectional area extends through the central portion of the transverse passage 18 vand receives a knob 28 onthe outside thereof and a knob 36 on the inside thereof wherein the knobs 23 and 30 are provided with threaded bores 432 and the outer ends of the portions of the shafts 24 and ICC A26 are threaded as indicated by the numeralv 34 for engagement with the threadedbores 32 in theknobs 28 and 3i). Suitable set screws 36 are provided for securely locking the knobs Sil and 28 on the shaft 22. vEach of vthe cover plates '12 and 14 Vinclude peripheral tia-tiges `38 receiving the inner ends of the knobs 28 and 3d. A stationary flange d@ is positioned on the portion 26 of the shaft 22 on the inner surface of the cover plate 12 for preventing relative longitudinal movement between the shaft 26 and the cover plate 12. However, it -is noted that the other portion 24 ofthe shaft 22 may move in relation to the cover plate 14.

rlhe Ainner end of the portion 26 ofthe shaft 22 is,provided with an enlarged portion 42 having an internally splined bore 44 as well as a longitudinal bore 46 of reducedcross sectional area. The first-portion 24 of the shaft 22 is Aprovided with a longitudinal extension 48 which is slidably and rotatably received in the longitudinal bore 46 of the portion 26 and a portion of first portion 24 of the shaft 22 .is provided with a reduced Varea Sli terminating in a peripheral ange '52 Ahaving a when the lug 54 is disposed within Vthe internally splined bore 44.

Secured to the rst portion 24 0f the shaft 22 in spaced relation to the inner surface of the cover plate 14 is ya iiange member 56 having a projecting lug 53 on one edge thereof. A cylindricalmember 58 extends from one ysurface of the flange 56 and receives and guides a compression spring 60 Adisposed between the flange 56and the linner surface of the cover plate 14 thereby continuously urging the flange 56 away from the covervplate 14. Further, it will be seen that since the ange 56 is secured to the iirst portion 24 of the Yshaft 22, the shaft 22 together with the knobs Sti and 28 will be urged away from lthe Vinner cover plate 14 toward the Iouter cover plate 12. Since the portion 26 of 'the shaft 22 cannot Vmove due 'to the locking flange 40engagin`g the inner surface of the cover plate 12, it-will be seen that `the spring "continuously urges the lug 54 toward the internal splined bore 44 on the portion 26 of the operating shaft 22 thereby forming a continuous shaft for operation of the latch by either the outside knob 28 or the insideknob 30.

Positioned on pivot lugs 62 on the inner surface of cover plate 14 is a latch member 64 having an arm 66 extending therefrom and a spring 68 positioned between the arm 66 and the cover 14 for continuously urging the latch 64 in one direction. The outer end of the latch 64 is provided with a cam surface 70 which will be engaged by the outer surface of the lug 58 when the lug 58 is moved toward the inner cover 14 when the door 16 is pulled shut by utilizing the inner knob 30. When the lug 58 is positioned behind the latch 64, the inner knob 30 has moved inwardly in relation to the inside cover plate 14 and the lug 54 has become disengaged from the spline 44 thereby permitting relative rotation between the first portion 24 and the second portion 26 of the operating shaft 22 thereby permitting free rotation of the outer knob 28 without actuating the latch 20. In order to release thedoor 16 from the outside in the event of an emergency or in the event of necessity, an elongated rod 72 is provided through a bore 74 in the door 16 with a portion thereof projecting outwardly through the outer cover plate 12. The rod 72 is provided with an integral flange 76 thereon for abutting engagement with a compression coil spring 78 which is positionedfin an enlarged bore 80 in the outer surface of the door 16 wherein the operating rod 72 is urged outwardly of the outer cover plate 12. The inner end of the rod 72 is positioned for engagement with the arm 66 of the latch 64 thereby disengaging the latch 64 from the lug 58 upon longitudinal sliding movement of the operating rod 72. This permits the release of the latch 64 from the outside of the door there- `by permitting the lug 54 to be engaged with the internally splined bore 44 and actuation of the latch 20 by the outside knob 28.

In order to open the door from the inside after the latch 64 has been engaged with the lug 58, it is only necessary to rotate the inner knob 30 thereby disengaging the lug 58 from the latch 64 by moving the lug S8 out of alignment with the latch 64 thereby permitting the lug 54 to move back into the internally splined bore 44 which then will permit operation of the latch 20 by either the inside knob 30 or the outside knob 28.

Referring now specifically to Figures 6-8 where the modified form of the present invention is generally illustrated by the numeral 82, it will be seen that the inner and outer cover plates are designated by the numerals 84 and 86 and the inner and outer doorknobs will be designated by the numerals 88 and 90 respectively. An elongated polygonal operating shaft 92 extends between the inner knob 88 and the outer knob 90 for actuation of the latch 94. One end of the shaft 92 is provided with a screw threaded portion 96 and a circular portion 98 is positioned in spaced relation to the other end for a purpose described hereinafter. The end of the shaft 92 in opposition to the threads 96 is Unthreaded and is slidably received in a bore 100 in the outer knob 90. The inner knob is screw threaded onto the threaded portion 96 of the shaft 92 and secured thereto by suitable set screw as desired.

Positioned on the inner surface of the outer cover plate is a bracket member 102 terminating in a polygonal recess 104 which is selectively positioned over the circular portion 98 wherein the shaft 92 may rotate in the recess 104 and positioned over the polygonal portion of the shaft 92 wherein the shaft 92 will be retained from rotation. In order to selectively longitudinally position the shaft 92, the knob 90 is secured in rotatable non-slidable movement in relation to the outside cover plate 96 by a peripheral groove 106 receiving a peripheral flange 108 on the cover plate 86 thereby precluding movement of the outer knob 90 except rotational movement. 'Also, it will be seen that the shaft 92 terminates in spaced relation to the bottom of the bore thereby permitting relative longitudinal movement between the shaft 92 and the knob 90. Secured to the shaft 92 in spaced relation to the inner cover plate 84 is a ilange 118 having a projecting lug 112 thereon and including a projecting cylinder 114 extending along the shaft 92. A compression coil spring 116 is positioned between the cylinder 114 and the inner surface of the inner cover plate 84 thereby continuously urging the knob SS toward the cover plate 84 and retaining the recess 184 in engagement with the circular portion 98 of the shaft 92 thereby permitting rotation of the shaft 92 and actuation of the latch 94 by either of the knobs 88 or 90. When the door 118 is closed, the'pulling force on the knob 88 will move the shaft 92 longitudinally against the action of the spring 116 thereby registering the polygonal portion of the shaft 92 with the recess 104 thereby preventing rotation of the shaft 92 and actuation of the latch 94. A spring urged latch 120 is provided for engagernent with therlug 112 on the flange 110 for retaining the shaft 92 in its longitudinally moved position or locked position until such time as the latch 120 is released.

In order to release the spring urged latch 120, an elongated rod 122 is provided which projects on both sides of the door 118 and extends through apertures 124 in both cover plates 84 and 86 wherein longitudinal movement of the rod 122 will release the latch 120 thereby permitting the spring 116 to urge the shaft 92 back to its normal position thereby permitting rotation of the shaft 92 inasmuch as the recess 104 is then in engagement with the circular portion 98 of the shaft 92. A suitable coil spring 126 is provided for continuously urging the release rod 122 to its normal position. Any suitable knob 128 may be provided on the inner surface or the outer surface as desired. While the device of this particular form of the invention is described as to the inner and outer knobs, it will be understood that the device may be referred as desired.

Now referring specically to Figure 9, it will be seen that the numeral 130 generally indicates a modified form of the locking device of the present invention wherein pushing pressure on the inner knob 132 is utilized in locking the door 134. In this case, the position of the spring 136 is reversed to the other side of the flange 138 having the lug 140 thereon. The cylinder 142 again guides the action of the spring 136 and the latch 144 engages the near surface of the lug 140 until such time as the actuating rod 146 releases the latch 144 thereby permitting longitudinal movement of the shaft 148 thereby permitting rotational movement of the shaft 148 and the knob 132. It will be understood that the arrangement shown in Figure 9 may be utilized in either of the devices as illustrated in Figures l-5 or in Figures 6-8 inasmuch as the inner cover plates 14 and 84 respectively are provided with spring urged latches 144. All other of the structure of Figures 1 and 6 remains the sarne when the relative position of the spring is reversed wherein inwardly extending pressure on the inner knob will automatically lock the door and in the case of Figure l, rotation of the inner knob 132 will release the locking device and in the case of Figure 6 actuation of the rod 122 will release the door lock of the present invention in an obvious manner.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In a lock mechanism, the combination of a polygonal latch actuating Shaft slidable from a non-rotatable locked position to a rotatable unlocked position, said shaft having inner and outer ends, an inside knob secured to the inner end portion of said shaft for sliding and rotation therewith, a non-slidable outside knob positioned on the outer end of said shaft, said shaft having an area of circular cross-sectional shape in. spaced relation to the ends thereof, a stationary U-shaped member engageable with the circular area of said shaft when the shaft is in unlocked position and engageable with the polygonal portion of the shaft when the shaft is in locked position for preventing rotation thereof, spring means urging said shaft to unlocked position, and releasable latch means for retaining said shaft in Ilocked position, said latch means being releasable from a point adjacent the inside and outside knobs.

2. In a lock mechanism, the combination of a sectional latch actuating shaft including a first portion slidable from a latch actuating position to a freely rotatable position, a non-slidable second portion, means interconnecting adjacent ends of the first and second portions of the shaft for forming a continuous shaft when the first portion is moved to latch actuating position and permitting free rotation of both portions of said shaft when the first portion is moved to a freely rotatable position, a knob on each end of said shaft, spring means urging said first portion to a latch actuating position, latch means for retaining said iirst portion in a freely rotating position, said releasable latch means being released selectively by rotation of said first portion of the shaft and from a point adjacent to the knob on the outer end of the second portion of the shaft.

3. in a lock mechanism the combination of a latch operating shaft having at least a portion thereof movable from a latch operative position to an inoperative position, spring assembly means urging the shaft to an operative position, latch means engageable with the spring assembly for retaining the shaft in inoperative position, knobs positioned on the outer ends of said shaft, one of said knobs being movably mounted for moving the shaft from an operative to an inoperative position, said latch means being releasable from each end of the shaft, said spring assembly including a stationary abutment, a coil spring surrounding said shaft and having one end engaging said abutment, a collar on said shaft engaging the other end of said spring, a radially projecting flange on said collar, and a pivotally mounted catch for engagement with the iiange when the shaft is moved to an inoperative position.

4. In a lock mechanism, the combination of an elongated latch operating shaft mounted for longitudinal sliding movement, a knob rigid with the inner end of the shaft, a knob slidably mounted on the other end of said shaft, said shaft being polygonal and provided with a cylindrical portion, a stationary member rotatably receiving the cylindrical portion of the shaft when in alignment therewith, said stationary member slidably receiving said shaft for precluding rotation thereof except when the stationary member i-s in alignment with the cylindrical portion, spring means urging the shaft longitudinally for aligning the cylindrical portion with the stationary member, and catch means for holding the shaft in longitudinally adjusted position in engagement With the stationary member, said catch means being releasable from a point adjacent each end of the shaft.

5. In a lock mechanism, the combination of an elongated latch operating shaft, said shaft being sectional and having a rst and second section, the first section having a longitudinal cylindrical extension, said second section having a longitudinal bore slidably and rotatably receiving the extension on the iirst section, means releasably interconnecting the sections of the shaft when the sections are disposed in adjacent relation, an inner knob on the first section, an outer knob on the second section, spring means urging said sections together, said first section adapted to be connected with a latch, and catch means for holding the sections in remote relation thus permitting free rotation of the second section and outer knob Without actuating the latch, and release means operative from both ends of the shaft for releasing the catch means.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 791,669 Brandon June 6, 1905 1,591,383 Herzing July 6, 1926 1,968,285 Egan July 31, 1934 2,264,239 Hirsh Nov. 25, 1941 2,295,435 Teich Sept. 8, 1942 2,602,318 Belausteguigoitia July 8, 1952 2,634,598 Kaiser Apr. 14, 1953 2,668,072 Falk Feb. 2, 1954 2,683,053 Russell et al. July 6, 1954 

